Page 7 | She used to fox hunt?!

Boxingdayhunts · 2023-12-26T22:29:45+00:00

name change urgh long story short - over Xmas got talking about newspiece about Boxing Day ‘trail hunts’. Got shock of my life when family member (married in not blood) revealed she had on occasion when younger joined hunts. actual fox hunts. this is something I feel strongly about. I would never have thought this about her. aibu to feel shocked, disappointed, and look a little differently at her now?

Jacfrost · 27/12/2023 13:03

Love the comments on here that if you're shocked by fox hunting you need to get out more / have a more diverse group of friends

It's like a parallel universe. What percentage of the population have ever gone hunting I wonder. It's really not a common activity rural living or otherwise - OP yanbu to feel shocked.

cerisepanther73 · 27/12/2023 13:06

@Boxingdayhunts

Foxes are handsome intelligent resourceful demonised creatures,

I really like them...

used to see them quite often

Frankly when I've come across shitty 💩people or nasty incidents news stories

i can understand why some people 🙄 sometimes prefer wildlife animals to Humans species,

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 13:06

If she went as part of a group and lived in an area it was considered normal, you should not judge her. If she now doesn't partake you should hold her in higher esteem as she has, at some point, had to kick back against people she knows to do the right thing. That's something you've never had to do!

I've never partaken but used to follow the hunt when I was very young because that's what our families did on Boxing Day. Then my parents saw the light and opted out, so I'd stopped before I was 10.

Baffledandalarmed · 27/12/2023 13:08

Do you have the same views about battery chickens (and other livestock) OP? I'm not condoning fox hunting, but the foxes suffer fright for maybe 10 - 15 minutes then dies. Compared to what some domesticated animals suffer...it's nothing.

Battery chickens live in cages for years.
Some dogs are kept in crates for 8+ hours a day.
My cat as a child used to place with half dead mice and literally torture them (vicious little beast that she was)
Horses kept in stables and only being turned out for a few hours a day (or paraded about at the Grand National where at least one horse dies every year for the publics amusement).

IMO all four of the above are far crueler than fox hunting. Doesn't mean I support fox hunting, but in the grand scheme of cruelty to animals fox hunting is never going to be the hill I die on.

Do you only eat organic meat? Or none at all, including products from animals such as not using leather, eating or consuming dairy etc? Cos I can guarantee that even 'organic' meat is harvested in unsavoury ways.

SoundTheSirens · 27/12/2023 13:10

I've never hunted and never would, but I have educated myself about it and to be pedantic, it's rarely the case that the fox is "chased for hours" - most of the time the hounds are following the scent that the fox left behind on the ground, not the fox itself, who could easily be miles away. Many hunts end without even catching sight of a fox (which is what makes them so inefficient as a method of pest control).

LifeonMarsnotVenus · 27/12/2023 13:11

NosnowontheScottishhills · 27/12/2023 12:55

So you think it’s acceptable for your dogs to chase and terrify and possibly seriously injure a horse (a prey animal). But it’s not acceptable to kill a fox surely even you cant be so obtuse not to see that this is pure double standards.

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Not at all.

They were trespassing so got what they deserved. 🤷🏻‍♀️

Jacfrost · 27/12/2023 13:14

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 13:06

If she went as part of a group and lived in an area it was considered normal, you should not judge her. If she now doesn't partake you should hold her in higher esteem as she has, at some point, had to kick back against people she knows to do the right thing. That's something you've never had to do!

I've never partaken but used to follow the hunt when I was very young because that's what our families did on Boxing Day. Then my parents saw the light and opted out, so I'd stopped before I was 10.

If she doesn't partake now that's probably because it's been ILLEGAL for about 20 years. I'm not sure that's a reason to hold somebody in high esteem, that they're not breaking the law?

TinyRebel · 27/12/2023 13:14

YeahRatFans · 26/12/2023 22:37

I hunted when younger, it was just part of growing up in the countryside. I expect she just went as a family group without even thinking about it

It’s really not. I grew up in the countryside and used to protest hunts, not participate in them. Killing the local wildlife, or shooting creatures out of the sky isn’t an essential pastime for countryside dwellers.
Round my way through, expect a lot depends on which school you go to and whether or not your family funds a horse - although a few thick, bloodthirsty thugs like to rage around the roads illegally with terriers in boxes for the digging out.

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 13:32

@Jacfrost

I thought there was a type still allowed? Shows how much I know about it now. I was 10 in 1977.

TheMarzipanDildoWithTinselDisguise · 27/12/2023 13:46

Sugarsun · 27/12/2023 10:24

Nope.

Comparing fox hunting with eating meat is very stupid.

Killing animals for food, is completely different to killing animals for sport/fun.

There is a reason why a giraffe shot down as a trophy piece is seen as disgusting and usually plastered all over the internet.

Its the same reason why ivory hunting is illegal.

Killing an animal for fun is no where near killing one for food, especially when the fun comes from the actual chase and torture of the animal too.

I unfortunately knew someone who killed their dog in a very barbaric way.
Comparing his vile actions to eating meat would be as stupid as comparing fox hunting with eating meat.

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But the sheep/pig/cow doesn’t know it’s going to be eaten and not stuck up on someone’s wall or whatever, and I’m not sure it would agree that it was all for the greater good if it did know.

TheMarzipanDildoWithTinselDisguise · 27/12/2023 13:48

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 13:32

@Jacfrost

I thought there was a type still allowed? Shows how much I know about it now. I was 10 in 1977.

It still goes on but you’re not supposed to kill the fox.

Ohmylovejune · 27/12/2023 13:50

Like it's very much different. Nasty people.

HamBone · 27/12/2023 13:51

new0936 · 26/12/2023 22:39

I think you're overreacting a little.

As pp pointed out she may have gone when you get and changed perspective.

An alternative view (from experience knowing people who hunt) is they are not there for "the hunt" they're there for the riding, galloping and jumping you don't get on a normal hack or cross country ride,
the social life, the balls, drinks, meets etc.

Friends of mine who I don't judge btw will speak of their days out focussing on the riding, the friends they meet there, none of my friends who have partaken were even remotely interested in if they caught a fox.

Yes, @new0936 My Dad grew up on a farm with horses. He isn’t remotely interested in hunting, but they all went to meets, hunt balls, etc., it was part of people’s social lives in the country.

I’m talking about a different era to your SIL though, he’s 85!

Wednesdaysotherchild · 27/12/2023 13:59

I would judge this and judge hard.

PincNeon · 27/12/2023 14:00

Not the if you eat meat thing again… I can’t stand the argument that if your behaviour isn’t 100% ethical, you have no right to criticise or care. Eating no meat and not hunting is the best for animals, no doubt, but eating meat and not hunting is still inflicting a whole lot less suffering than doing both. I’d rather a hypocrite (as we all are one way of another) that gets some of it right than someone who throws their hands up and doesn’t give a stuff about anything.

PincNeon · 27/12/2023 14:03

Also love the lofty ‘most people are just there for the ride and have zero interest in whether there is a fox or not’ comments. As if not giving a shit makes it ok.

ruby1957 · 27/12/2023 14:11

Grimchmas · 26/12/2023 22:39

Horse owners used to go hunting for the riding, it was only the hunt employees who were interested in getting foxes killed. YABU to hold it against her.

Exactly this.
If one lived in the country the Boxing day hunt was an event not to be missed. If not rich enough to ride - it ws followed on foot or in a car.

In our farming family my father would tell the HUNT the wrong way if he was asked mainly because he cared for animals and because the 'HUNT had a legal right to rise rough-shod over anyone's land and the result could be broken fences and left open gates.
I too went to the meet as a child and loved seeing the horses and hounds in full flight (that is what most of the followers enjoyed). To my knowledge the fox was mostly wily enough to escape the hounds and go to earth.

Really you sound very judgemental about something you know very little about. BTW foxes are not totally cuddly creatures - they can kill lambs, chickens, small creatures as well as cats

YABVU

TheMarzipanDildoWithTinselDisguise · 27/12/2023 14:13

PincNeon · 27/12/2023 14:00

Not the if you eat meat thing again… I can’t stand the argument that if your behaviour isn’t 100% ethical, you have no right to criticise or care. Eating no meat and not hunting is the best for animals, no doubt, but eating meat and not hunting is still inflicting a whole lot less suffering than doing both. I’d rather a hypocrite (as we all are one way of another) that gets some of it right than someone who throws their hands up and doesn’t give a stuff about anything.

Yes tbh I was against the hunt when I ate meat and I’m still against the hunt now I don’t. I don’t judge people for eating meat. But I do also think animals being killed aren’t going to be bothered about whether their deaths are for fun or food. It’s all pretty horrible for them.

Sugarsun · 27/12/2023 14:17

PincNeon · 27/12/2023 14:00

Not the if you eat meat thing again… I can’t stand the argument that if your behaviour isn’t 100% ethical, you have no right to criticise or care. Eating no meat and not hunting is the best for animals, no doubt, but eating meat and not hunting is still inflicting a whole lot less suffering than doing both. I’d rather a hypocrite (as we all are one way of another) that gets some of it right than someone who throws their hands up and doesn’t give a stuff about anything.

Exactly!

I have unfortunately come across men who’ve been charged with animal abuse.

They literally inflicted pain or killed for fun on something that was smaller and weaker than them.

They are scum and I think everyone would agree with me.

But apparently it’s ok if it’s a fox and not a dog or cat 🙄

Killing or chasing to kill for fun, is nothing like killing for food.

The fact that a group of people go out to try and kill something and see it as a good time, is barbaric.
And I would not trust any of them around kids.

The people who just ‘go for the ride’ are just as bad, considering they can go for a ride without trying to kill something.

Cerealkiller4U · 27/12/2023 14:23

I live in the forest so every other person here has hunted.

they drag hunt now. But people have issues with that nowadays!

im very very different to how I was when I was younger and would be devastated if someone judged me on something I did 30 years ago!

Postapocalypticcowgirl · 27/12/2023 14:28

LaPalmaLlama · 26/12/2023 22:42

Honestly, if you eat meat you’re complicit in a lot worse so let he who is without sin cast the first stone and all that.

Disagree- meat is generally killed humanely, foxes that are hunted with hounds are not. I'm not saying there's no suffering in the meat industry, but the actual dispatch is humane, whereas it very much isn't during a fox hunt.

If you need to humanely dispatch a fox, shooting it has always been an option.

peakygold · 27/12/2023 15:42

I have ridden with the hunt and, to be fair, unless you at at the front with the pack, you don't see anything. It's an exhilarating gallop around the countryside.

peakygold · 27/12/2023 15:45

Sugarsun · 27/12/2023 14:17

Exactly!

I have unfortunately come across men who’ve been charged with animal abuse.

They literally inflicted pain or killed for fun on something that was smaller and weaker than them.

They are scum and I think everyone would agree with me.

But apparently it’s ok if it’s a fox and not a dog or cat 🙄

Killing or chasing to kill for fun, is nothing like killing for food.

The fact that a group of people go out to try and kill something and see it as a good time, is barbaric.
And I would not trust any of them around kids.

The people who just ‘go for the ride’ are just as bad, considering they can go for a ride without trying to kill something.

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Farmers will call in the hunt if they are having a huge problem with foxes killing their livestock. Foxes also kill for fun, you know.

Sugarsun · 27/12/2023 15:53

peakygold · 27/12/2023 15:45

Farmers will call in the hunt if they are having a huge problem with foxes killing their livestock. Foxes also kill for fun, you know.

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What a ridiculous post.

Are you seriously suggesting humans should do something because a wild animal does it?

Foxes are omnivores and need to hunt to survive.
They don’t kill for fun.
Even if they did kill for fun, that doesn’t mean a human should copy them.

Some animals, such as dolphins will rape other dolphins.
I would hope that you don’t think just because a dolphin does it, it’s ok for humans to do it.

My dog takes a shit in the middle of the garden.
I can’t say I’ve ever thought to do the same.

SoundTheSirens · 27/12/2023 16:05

Foxes don't kill "for fun". They do kill more than just what is needed to satiate their (and their cubs', where appropriate) immediate hunger because they have a different prey drive to most predators. Their 'stalk-chase-kill' impulse doesn't shut off after the first 'kill', so they are driven to repeat the cycle until there is no prey left nearby. That's what makes them so dangerous in a hen run or a field of lambs; they don't have the 'off' switch that essentially says "that's enough to fill you up" that most other predators have. That's why many farmers want them controlled, because of the amount of damage a single fox can do to small livestock. But the fox is driven by instinct, not a sense of "fun" or similar.